Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association, Inc.

CDBG

Feb 27, 2005

One of the ways in which our community has been able to have the investment capital necessary to revitalize our neighborhood is via the Community Development Block Grants [CDBG]. CDB Grants has paid for all the improvement done to the neighborhood from sidewalks to street lights, directional and neighborhood signs to monies to pay for outside home improvements, like the ?“Let?’s Paint the ?‘Hood?’ Blight Out?”. The purpose behind founding the neighborhood association, as a nonprofit corporation, was to be able to ask for, get and handle our own CDBG applications and manage such monies granted in public improvements and projects all by ourselves. In a short sentence, we can?’t do without CDBG?’s as they are structured today. As many of you are aware, President Bush has proposed the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. For thirty years, America's cities, large and small, have used CDBG grants to create jobs, provide affordable housing, eliminate blight, and generate new economic investment. The president's proposal, which he calls a "Strengthening America's Communities Initiative", would combine 18 direct grant programs, including CDBG, into one within the Economic Development Administration (EDA). At $3.71 billion, the new program provides nearly $1 billion less the current CDBG program alone! Therefore, we need to organize even further and raise a ruckus loud enough to ask Washington and President Bush to, at least, leave the CDBG as they are today. We need to reach out and unite with other nonprofits to influence the Federal Budget via our [and other States] Congressional Delegation. Please, make the time to attend the association meeting of March 8 and commit yourself to help your community by getting involved in this very important issue, in an organized way.